out of focus pictures in low light shots

willwalker · 06-05-2011, 06:22 PM

I was taking pictures at my daughters graduation ceremony indoors this weekend. Using K-7 with DA 55-300 lens, so that I could try and get some close up shots.

When nobody was moving around too fast the pictures came out half way decent. But, when I was trying to get shots of the graduate walking across the stage(lens set at 300 mm) the shots all came out very blurry. Is this because the lens is rather slow at this focal length or do I just need more practice leading the subject?

Would I have had better results with the camera in movie mode and then making single frames from the video? I did this during a thunder storm recently with pretty good results.

**wizofoz** · 06-05-2011, 06:30 PM

Hi Will, can you post a couple of the pics with EXIF data so folk here can try and analyse the problem?

RioRico · 06-05-2011, 07:48 PM

Originally posted by willwalker

When nobody was moving around too fast the pictures came out half way decent. But, when I was trying to get shots of the graduate walking across the stage(lens set at 300 mm) the shots all came out very blurry. Is this because the lens is rather slow at this focal length or do I just need more practice leading the subject?

A slow shutter and aperture, coupled with a low ISO, guarantees blurry shots. You need to use TAv mode with the shutter fast enough and the aperture wide enough, and let ISO float to your comfortable limit. High-ISO noise can be fixed in PP; blurry shots can't.

hcc · 06-05-2011, 07:51 PM

I think that the lens is too slow. You need either additonal lighting (eg flash) to use a faster shutter speed, or a faster lens with larger apeture (f2.8 or better f1.8).

I have a K-7 and shot a few indoor school events last year in the hall. During day time, I was able to get some decent shots with a f2.8 lens, but in the evening I needed to use a faster lens (f1.8 or better f1.4).

Simply the kit lenses are not fast enough with the K-7.

Last edited by hcc; 06-05-2011 at 11:06 PM.

**Ash** · 06-05-2011, 10:03 PM

In general, keep shutter speed faster than 1/(focal length in mm) and you should get sharper images.

krypticide · 06-05-2011, 11:41 PM

If it's not motion blur, it's also possible that they moved out of the focal plane by the time focus locked and the shutter was triggered. This is particularly true in low light when you're shooting with a fast lens wide open.

Just last night I was trying to get some pictures by street lamp on my K-5, and I ended up using Live View in order to get my images sharp. The subject wasn't moving fortunately...

willwalker · 06-06-2011, 05:15 AM

Originally posted by wizofoz

Hi Will, can you post a couple of the pics with EXIF data so folk here can try and analyse the problem?

Will do, but it won't be for a couple of days. Have to work. Thanks in advance for assistance/advice.

willwalker · 06-06-2011, 06:36 PM

Here are the pictures to go along with this thread, but I think your replys have already answered my questions. Thanks to all for your assistance.

bobmaxja · 06-06-2011, 06:40 PM

This is not out of focus this is because your speed is too slow. I presume this as we have no Exif Data

willwalker · 06-07-2011, 02:51 PM

Guess shutter speed is pretty slow on these photos! Thanks for pointing this out.

exif files attached for three of the shots.

twitch · 06-07-2011, 03:41 PM

Seems to have been pretty dark. ISO800 is very limiting too, even with a K-7 though you should push the ISO up to at least 1600. Even then your shutter speeds would still be too slow, even ISO3200 would have given you only ~1/60 which at 300mm is dicey to say the least. A monopod would have helped with shake, but not subject movement.

So then it's a new lens for f2.8 (eg 70-200 f2.8) or a new body for ISO6400 (K-r or better, K-5) or both if you want better pics in such a situation again.

newarts · 06-07-2011, 05:23 PM

The out of focus is mostly smear from the camera and subjects moving during the exposures (mostly the camera).

Practice in panning would help as would going to ISO 3200. Another thing that could help a lot is finding strategies to brace the camera - like get a walking stick to use as a stealth monopod.

06-05-2011, 06:22 PM	#1
willwalker New Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Massachusetts Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17	out of focus pictures in low light shots I was taking pictures at my daughters graduation ceremony indoors this weekend. Using K-7 with DA 55-300 lens, so that I could try and get some close up shots. When nobody was moving around too fast the pictures came out half way decent. But, when I was trying to get shots of the graduate walking across the stage(lens set at 300 mm) the shots all came out very blurry. Is this because the lens is rather slow at this focal length or do I just need more practice leading the subject? Would I have had better results with the camera in movie mode and then making single frames from the video? I did this during a thunder storm recently with pretty good results.

06-06-2011, 06:36 PM	#8
willwalker New Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Massachusetts Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17 Original Poster	Pictures of Graduation Here are the pictures to go along with this thread, but I think your replys have already answered my questions. Thanks to all for your assistance. Attached Images

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06-05-2011, 06:30 PM	#2
wizofoz Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne, Outer east. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,695	Hi Will, can you post a couple of the pics with EXIF data so folk here can try and analyse the problem?

06-05-2011, 07:48 PM	#3
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Originally posted by willwalker When nobody was moving around too fast the pictures came out half way decent. But, when I was trying to get shots of the graduate walking across the stage(lens set at 300 mm) the shots all came out very blurry. Is this because the lens is rather slow at this focal length or do I just need more practice leading the subject? A slow shutter and aperture, coupled with a low ISO, guarantees blurry shots. You need to use TAv mode with the shutter fast enough and the aperture wide enough, and let ISO float to your comfortable limit. High-ISO noise can be fixed in PP; blurry shots can't.

06-05-2011, 07:51 PM	#4
hcc Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,005	I think that the lens is too slow. You need either additonal lighting (eg flash) to use a faster shutter speed, or a faster lens with larger apeture (f2.8 or better f1.8). I have a K-7 and shot a few indoor school events last year in the hall. During day time, I was able to get some decent shots with a f2.8 lens, but in the evening I needed to use a faster lens (f1.8 or better f1.4). Simply the kit lenses are not fast enough with the K-7. Last edited by hcc; 06-05-2011 at 11:06 PM.

06-05-2011, 10:03 PM	#5
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	In general, keep shutter speed faster than 1/(focal length in mm) and you should get sharper images.

06-05-2011, 11:41 PM	#6
krypticide Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,079	If it's not motion blur, it's also possible that they moved out of the focal plane by the time focus locked and the shutter was triggered. This is particularly true in low light when you're shooting with a fast lens wide open. Just last night I was trying to get some pictures by street lamp on my K-5, and I ended up using Live View in order to get my images sharp. The subject wasn't moving fortunately...

06-06-2011, 05:15 AM	#7
willwalker New Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Massachusetts Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17 Original Poster	Originally posted by wizofoz Hi Will, can you post a couple of the pics with EXIF data so folk here can try and analyse the problem? Will do, but it won't be for a couple of days. Have to work. Thanks in advance for assistance/advice.

06-06-2011, 06:40 PM	#9
bobmaxja Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Laval, Quebec Canada Posts: 2,171	This is not out of focus this is because your speed is too slow. I presume this as we have no Exif Data

06-07-2011, 03:41 PM	#11
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	Seems to have been pretty dark. ISO800 is very limiting too, even with a K-7 though you should push the ISO up to at least 1600. Even then your shutter speeds would still be too slow, even ISO3200 would have given you only ~1/60 which at 300mm is dicey to say the least. A monopod would have helped with shake, but not subject movement. So then it's a new lens for f2.8 (eg 70-200 f2.8) or a new body for ISO6400 (K-r or better, K-5) or both if you want better pics in such a situation again.

06-07-2011, 05:23 PM	#12
newarts Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ames, Iowa, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 2,965	The out of focus is mostly smear from the camera and subjects moving during the exposures (mostly the camera). Practice in panning would help as would going to ISO 3200. Another thing that could help a lot is finding strategies to brace the camera - like get a walking stick to use as a stealth monopod.